noel

IPA/nəʊˈel/
KK[noˈɛl]IPA/nəʊˈel/

noel — noun

1. another way of saying Christmas, found mainly in song lyrics, poems, and holiday

1.名詞C1
釋義

another way of saying Christmas, found mainly in song lyrics, poems, and holiday greeting cards rather than everyday speech.

例句

The choir sang "The First Noel" outside the village church on Christmas Eve.

common as a song title; capitalized when titled

Nellie painted "A Joyous Noel" in gold letters across the top of every card.

fixed phrase on holiday cards: 'Joyous Noel' / 'Merry Noel'

同義詞
  • Christmas

    the everyday word; 'noel' is the lyrical or decorative variant

  • Yuletide

    also archaic / literary; broader, covers the whole festive season

  • Christmastide

    formal religious term for the 12 days following Christmas

用法筆記

Almost never used in plain prose for the holiday itself — say 'Christmas'. Reserved for decorative, lyrical, or ceremonial contexts: song titles, card greetings, mantel letters, hymn names. Often capitalized as 'Noel' and sometimes spelled 'Noël' with the diaeresis preserved from French.

常見錯誤

❌We are going home for Noel this year.
✅We are going home for Christmas this year.
💡'noel' is not used in everyday speech for the holiday; use 'Christmas'.
❌Happy Noel!
✅Merry Christmas!' or written 'Joyous Noel' on a card.
💡spoken greetings use 'Christmas'; 'Noel' belongs on cards and ornaments.